Problem of plenty: Record 9 million 'akiya' homes are vacant in Japan

Problem of plenty: Record 9 million ‘akiya’ homes are vacant in Japan

Japan is grappling with a significant challenge as the number of vacant homes, known as “akiya,” has surged to a record high of nine million, which is more than the population of New York City. This alarming increase is largely attributed to the country’s continuously declining population, presenting a unique set of problems for both urban and rural areas.

According to Jeffrey Hall, a lecturer at Kanda University of International Studies in Chiba, “This is a symptom of Japan’s population decline. It’s not really a problem of building too many houses, but a problem of not having enough people.” This situation is exacerbated in cities like Tokyo and Kyoto, where abandoned homes are increasingly common, a CNN report said.

The akiya issue is not just a housing market concern but also poses significant risks during disasters, such as earthquakes and tsunamis, which Japan is prone to. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications reports that 14% of all residential properties in Japan are now vacant, encompassing second homes and those temporarily unoccupied due to owners working abroad, the CNN report said.

These vacant homes can hinder the efforts to rejuvenate aging towns, becoming hazards due to lack of maintenance and complicating rescue efforts during disasters. Yuki Akiyama, a professor from the faculty of architecture and urban design at Tokyo City University, highlighted the dangers posed by akiya during the 7.5 magnitude earthquake on the Noto Peninsula in January. “When an earthquake or a tsunami occurs, there is a possibility that vacant houses will block evacuation routes as they break down and get destroyed,” Akiyama explained.

The issue also has a negative impact on the value of real estate in areas with high concentrations of akiya, as these properties stall development and lower regional attractiveness. “The value of the area will be reduced because it is a place where you can’t buy and sell it properly and you can’t do large-scale development,” said Akiyama.

While some have turned to renovating these homes into guesthouses or cafes, Hall warned that the process is not as straightforward as it seems, especially for foreigners. “The truth is most of these homes are not going to be sold to foreigners, or that the amount of administrative work and the rules behind it [are] not something easy for somebody who doesn’t speak Japanese and read Japanese very well,” he said.

As Japan’s population continues to shrink and the number of children born each year declines, the challenge of managing and repurposing these empty homes remains daunting. With the fertility rate remaining far below the replacement level, the problem of too many homes and too few people is expected to persist, shaping the future of housing and urban development in Japan.

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